Mold system and process for producing components by the RTM process

Abstract

A mold system for a resin transfer molding process is presented, in which a cavity of a workpiece ( 1 ) to be produced is fully enclosed circumferentially by a multi-part shaping mold ( 2 ). The shaping mold ( 2 ) is enclosed in a sealed manner by an outer, two or more part enveloping mold ( 7, 8 ). A method for consolidating a fiber composite component with this mold system and a method for producing a fiber composite component on the basis of the RTM process is provided, in which the intermediate space between a shaping mold ( 2 ) and a surrounding enveloping mold ( 7, 8 ) is filled with resin during the resin injection. After curing the resin initially remains on the shaping mold ( 2 ) as a resin body but is destroyed during the demolding of the workpiece ( 1 ), at predetermined breaking points. The demolding of the workpiece ( 1 ) from the shaping mold ( 2 ) is assisted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mold system for a resin transfer molding process (RTM process) the mold system comprising:
 a multipart shaping mold; and 
 an at least two-part enveloping mold, wherein the cavity of a workpiece to be produced is fully enclosed by the shaping mold and the shaping mold can be inserted into the at least two-part enveloping mold and the enveloping mold forms a pressure-tight process chamber in a closed state and the shaping mold has spacers on an outside and/or the enveloping mold has spacers on an inside, wherein said spacers define a thickness of intermediate spaces in an area between the shaping mold and the enveloping mold. 
 
     
     
       2. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the shaping mold is a slide mold. 
     
     
       3. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the shaping mold has corresponding oblique surfaces on the outside and the enveloping mold has corresponding oblique surfaces on the inside, by means of which the closing force of the enveloping mold acts as a closing force for the shaping mold. 
     
     
       4. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the spacers have a height of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
       5. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the enveloping mold and the shaping mold have a seal and the lower and the upper enveloping molds thus form a pressure-tight process chamber. 
     
     
       6. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an injection port and wherein a feed line to the injection port exits laterally from one of the enveloping mold parts. 
     
     
       7. A mold system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the shaping mold has stop faces for a load-absorbing. 
     
     
       8. A mold system for a resin transfer molding process, the mold system comprising:
 a multipart shaping inner mold comprising spacers; and 
 an at least two-part outer mold comprising an outer mold interior space, wherein a cavity of a workpiece to be produced is fully enclosed by the multipart shaping inner mold, the multipart shaping inner mold being inserted into the outer mold interior space during the resin transfer molding process, the at least two-part outer mold forming a pressure-tight process chamber in a closed state, wherein the spacers and the at least two part outer mold define a plurality of intermediate spaces between the multipart shaping inner mold and the at least two-part outer mold. 
 
     
     
       9. A mold system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the spacers define a thickness of the intermediate spaces in an area between the multipart shaping inner mold and the at least two-part outer mold. 
     
     
       10. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the multipart shaping inner mold is a slide mold. 
     
     
       11. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the multipart shaping inner mold has corresponding oblique surfaces on the outside and the at least two-part outer mold has corresponding oblique surfaces on the inside, by means of which the closing force of the enveloping mold acts as a closing force for the shaping mold. 
     
     
       12. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the spacers have a height of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
       13. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the at least two-part outer mold and the multipart shaping inner mold have a seal and a lower mold and an upper mold of the at least two-part outer mold form the pressure-tight process chamber. 
     
     
       14. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising an injection port, wherein a feed line to the injection port exits laterally from one part of the at least two-part outer mold. 
     
     
       15. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the multipart shaping inner mold has stop faces for a load-absorbing. 
     
     
       16. A mold system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the spacers define an outer surface of the multipart shaping inner mold.